The Clitoris: The Tip of an Iceberg

Did you know that the size of the clitoris is comparable to that of an average penis? The large majority of the clitoral network is internal, we only get to see the very tip on the outside. There's so much more than the little man in the boat!

The clitoris. What do you think of when you hear the word "clit?" Do you think of the super-sensitive little nub that can make someone scream with pleasure? The pink bump concealed under a soft skin hood?

Thankfully most of us, male, female and everyone in between, can at least point to the clitoris on a chart, you might even know how to touch it "just right" and make the owner's toes curl! But, how much do you really know about the clit? It's so much more than just the tip that we see on the surface, its a whole network of nerves. Plus, did you know that not everyone who has a clitoral network is a woman? Many different people have clitorises, including transmen (female to male transsexuals), female-bodied genderqueers/gender neutrals/gender fluids, and some intersexed folk! Everyone's clit is different, transmen's clits are often huge from testosterone therapy, some intersexed people's may look closer to a penis, while some people's are so small and covered that you may not even see them!

The whole clitoris, including all of it's parts, is called the "clitoral network." While the little part that sticks out (the glans) ranges in size from a grain of rice to an olive, the entire network is actually about the same size as a penis, but most of it is internal. The clitoris has a head, a shaft, and erectile tissue, just like the penis. The clitoris swells with blood during arousal, as does other parts of the vagina. The head is even similarly shaped, except smaller and without the urethral opening! In some intersexed individuals, the head of the micropenis is in the "female position," as in the glans points downwards. The closer you get to male, the more upwards the glans will point, and more of the network becomes "external." The longest recorded clitoris was about 12in, mentioned in W. Francis Benedict's "The Sexual Anatomy of Women." No need to feel self conscious though, the average female's exposed portion of the clitoris is about the size of a pencil eraser!

(Illustration by butts)

'The Hood' is the flap of skin covering the glans of the clitoris, the equivalent of the male foreskin. It covers and protects the ultra-sensitive bundle of nerves so that it doesn't get irritated by clothing, or anything else that could possibly touch it. Most clits are completely covered and don't show unless the hood is pulled back. Some hoods are small and only cover part of the clitoris, but the size of the hood doesn't correspond to the size of the clitoris. The hood is what typically gets pierced when people say "clit piercings," piercing the actual clitoris is uncommon. The hood is incredibly thin, and barely has any nerves in it, especially compared to the clitoris itself. Some people choose to split or remove the clitoral hood if they are particularly insensitive, which can be an effective solution for those who have difficulty with clitoral orgasms. However, this procedure is not something to jump into without a lot of research and consideration. Removing the protective hood may lead to easier orgasms and heightened sensitivity for a while, but just like a circumcised penis, constant exposure to clothing and friction will dull the nerves over time. Years after this procedure, you may have an even harder time orgasming than you did before it! Splitting the hood is a much less problematic procedure, it leaves the hood there so the sensitive nerves of the clitoris are still protected, but allows for easier access. This is great if you have large hood that makes it difficult to stimulate the clit directly.

Blue: The glans of the clitoris is what most people will think of when you say the word "clit." It is the tip that sticks out of the body and is covered by the hood, "the bean," "the little man in the boat," "the button." This is very similar to the head or glans of the penis, in fact, it's a similar shape as well. On most females it's harder to tell, but if you look at pictures of Female to Male transsexual's clits (they are often large), you'll notice the shape similarities. The glans has between 6 and 8 thousand nerve endings, nearly four times as many as the glans of the penis. Penis nerves are much more spread out, while the clitoris is very concentrated. The glans is the only externally exposed part of the clitoral network, and contains the highest concentration of nerves.

Yellow: "Crus" literally means "a leg-like part," the crus of the clitoris are the thin pieces that extend outwards on each side, attached to the pelvic brim (the large hole in the bottom of the pelvic bone). The crus are about 9cm long (3.5in) compared to the glans, which is usually only 2cm (less than 1in). While the crus isn't easily directly stimulated like the glans, it is attached to the glans and brings pleasure to the surrounding area.

Green: The bulbs of the clitoris surround the left and right sides of the vagina and are stimulated during penetration. These are made from erectile tissue that swells during arousal, tightening the vaginal opening and urethra. While these previously weren't considered part of the clitoris, they actually are connected, by fibrous strands, to the body and glans. These are similar to the corpora cavernosa of the penis (the two tubes of tissue inside of the shaft that swell during arousal), they're even split into two similar pieces!

The g-spot was previously thought to be an extension of the clitoris, but it's actually a separate organ. The g-spot is (most likely) the female prostate gland, called the Skene's gland (the same gland responsible for female ejaculation, or squirting), not the "back" of the clitoris. However, stimulating the g-spot while stimulating the clitoris can lead to much easier clitoral orgasms.

Now, when you think of the clitoris, remember that it's so much more than what you can see, the whole network of nerves work together to give the owner deep and intense pleasure. That little nub is just the tip of a pleasure-iceberg!